Irish insurtech Kayna has joined the Guidewire InsurTech Vanguards programme, strengthening its position in the embedded insurance market as carriers increasingly seek new ways to serve small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
The programme, led by Guidewire, is designed to help property and casualty insurers identify emerging insurtech solutions and explore how new technologies can be integrated into their operations and distribution strategies.
Cork-based Kayna connects vertical software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers with carriers, MGAs, and brokers, enabling tailored insurance products to be embedded directly into the software platforms SMEs use to run their businesses.
The company’s platform uses operational business data already held within SaaS systems to analyse insurance needs and identify coverage gaps, allowing insurers to deliver more relevant protection at the point of need.
The appointment to the Guidewire programme comes shortly after Kayna was named one of five finalists at InsurPitch Dublin 2026, where the company secured a win from a panel of industry judges. The result will see Kayna represent Ireland and Europe at Guidewire Connections 2026 in Las Vegas later this year, presenting to more than 3,000 insurance executives, investors, and media representatives.
Paul Prendergast said: “Joining Guidewire Insurtech Vanguards is an important milestone for Kayna. The program brings together leading Insurtechs and the P&C carriers we partner with every day.
“Embedded insurance inside the software platforms used to run daily business operations is where the market is moving. Kayna’s ability to analyse, identify and fill the cover gap on-platform is successfully reshaping the insurance distribution model for small and medium-sized businesses, while giving carriers a faster, smarter route to a market that has been hard to reach. We look forward to working alongside Guidewire customers to bring that to life.”
Guidewire’s InsurTech Vanguards community comprises selected startups and technology providers developing new solutions for the P&C market. Participating companies receive strategic guidance and access to Guidewire’s carrier ecosystem.
Laura Drabik said: “We are thrilled to welcome Kayna to the Insurtech Vanguards program.
”Small and medium-sized businesses are a significantly underserved segment for P&C carriers and Kayna’s embedded approach, bringing tailored insurance to SMEs through the vertical SaaS platforms they already use, opens up a powerful new distribution channel. We look forward to connecting Kayna with the Guidewire community as they help carriers reach this market more efficiently and serve it more meaningfully.”
The move reflects broader momentum in embedded insurance, where insurers are increasingly partnering with software providers to distribute protection products at the point of customer interaction. For SMEs, a segment often described as underinsured and difficult to access, embedded distribution models are emerging as a way to improve relevance, reduce friction, and expand insurance uptake.
